A/N: Thanks for the reviews, Unobtrusive, Zenfrodo, Vinsmouse, Carnath, KennaC and Leya! They are always appreciated! This chapter is pure fluff...because I'm a very fluffy girl at heart. Thank you so much for reading!

Chapter 4

"Wow," Joe said, as he stood in the cabin living room two hours later and surveyed the retro Western décor and the large comfortable furnishings. "This is nice."

"Yeah," Frank agreed. "Your Aunt Susan is going to have this place packed with guests, Em." He ran his hand over the river rock wall surrounding the fireplace. "How many bedrooms are there?"

"Two," Nancy said, an innocent tone to her voice.

"Perfect," Frank said with a grin as he stepped over to Nancy. "Shall we check them out?"

"If you'd like." Nancy took his hand and led him to the far side of the room. "Follow me," she teased, opening the bedroom door.

"I think they've got the right idea," Joe said, slipping his arms around Emily's waist. "Where's our room, baby?"

"Right here." She stepped out of Joe's embrace and led him into a room directly across from them. He looked at the bed and the fireplace, then grinned at her. "Think anyone will miss us if we just stay in here for the rest of the trip? Frank and Nancy can solve the mystery by themselves."

Emily giggled. "I think people might get a little suspicious." She opened up another door. "Here's the bathroom. In case you want to take a shower."

"Is that a hint?" Joe grabbed her and pulled her toward him. "Are you saying I stink?" He nuzzled her neck.

"No." She poked him in the ribs. "Only that you're a little dusty. She sighed. "And that comforter and all those pillows are so white and clean."

"Okay," he agreed. He kissed her. "I'll be out in ten minutes. Unless you'd care to join me?"

"Get in there," she said with a smile. "Maybe later, if you're good."

OOO

She went back into the living room and found Nancy standing near the couches. Emily looked at the stack of sheets she was holding. "Let me guess, my Aunt Susan left those out here."

Nancy laughed. "Yeah, I guess we're supposed to use them on the couches for Frank and Joe."

Emily reached for a set. "Then let's do it."

OOO

Frank entered the living room five minutes later to find Nancy and Emily spreading comforters over the couches. "Um, I got the fire started, honey," he said to Nancy.

"Oh, good." Nancy fluffed up a pillow and arranged it on one of the sofas. "Thanks."

Frank stepped over to her. "Can I ask what you're doing?"

Nancy smiled at him as she slipped a pillowcase onto another pillow. "Making up your bed for you."

"Making up my bed?" Frank was puzzled. Hadn't he just spent the past ten minutes getting the perfect romantic blaze going in the fireplace? In the bedroom he and Nancy were sleeping in? Together?

"Yes." Nancy turned to him. "You and Joe should be really comfortable out here."

"Me and Joe?" He glanced at his brother as he stepped out of the other bedroom, shirtless with a pair of gray sweatpants on.

"What's going on?" Joe asked.

"Nothing, honey. Just finishing up your bed," Emily said.

"My bed's in there." Joe pointed backwards. "You know. Me, you, bed," he gestured.

Joe was a little primitive about it, Frank thought. But those were his sentiments, exactly. Me, Nancy, bed.

"Oh, I'm sorry, didn't you know? Aunt Susan would never approve of those arrangements," Emily said.

"What?" Joe asked. "She put the four of us together in this two bedroom cabin. And I'm sure she didn't expect Frank and me to share a bed."

"No, silly," Nancy teased. "That's what the couches are for. Emily and I get the bedrooms. You guys get the couches."

"Um, Nan? You're kidding, right? I mean, we're all consenting adults here. All at least age twenty-one." Frank had spent the entire day fantasizing about his plans for Nancy tonight. And now he was being told that he was going to have to sleep on the couch? Was she insane?

"Nope. Dead serious." She kissed him briefly on the lips and handed him a pillow. "Good night, babe. I'll see you in the morning."

Emily gave Joe a hug. "I love you, honey. Good night."

"Wh-what?" Joe sputtered as the girls disappeared behind closed doors. He turned to Frank. "What just happened?"

Frank shook his head. "I don't know, but I'm not sleeping out here. Not when I haven't seen her for three weeks and she's ten feet away." He threw his pillow down on the couch and entered the bedroom.

OOO

Nancy held her hand under the shower nozzle, testing the temperature of the water. Perfect. She had just pulled back the curtain and was getting ready to step in when someone touched her on the shoulder. Nancy jumped and let out a little scream. She turned to see a naked Frank chuckling at her. "Damn it, Frank. Don't scare me like that."

"I'm sorry," he said, laughing as he took her into his arms and walked under the spray. "I missed you so much, baby," he murmured, kissing her shoulder. "It's been too long since I've been in River Heights."

Nancy closed her eyes, as he slid his hands down to the small of her back. "Frank, you're not supposed to be in here."

"Don't care." He lifted his hands up to her hair, tilted her head back, and covered her mouth with his. Nancy felt herself getting dizzy as his tongue slid sensuously over her bottom lip, coaxing her to deepen the kiss. She clung to Frank as the water poured down over them. His hands slid over her shoulders and down to her waist, where his grip tightened and he pulled her body flush against his.

"See, I've got this problem." He kissed her again. "I'm crazy about you."

"Frank," she gasped, feeling as though she were drowning as he pressed her back against the shower wall, placing his hands on either side of her face and bending his head down to kiss her throat. "I don't care either," she whispered to him.

OOOoooOOO

Joe yanked off his sweatpants and tossed them on the floor next to the couch. He sat down for a moment in his boxers, and stared at Emily's closed bedroom door.

"To hell with this," he said aloud, and marched across the room, flinging it open. Emily was standing next to the bed, clad only in a tight pink tank top and matching lace panties.

"Joe," she said, turning her head. "What took you so long?"

He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into him tightly. "You little stinker," he said, kissing her neck.

She leaned back against him as Joe's lips traveled down her neck, first resting on her collarbone, then moving to her shoulder. "Mmmm, that makes me crazy, you know," she murmured.

"Why do think I'm doing it?" He pulled her hair back and nuzzled her neck.

"You're making my knees weak," Emily gasped, giggling as he slipped his hands underneath her tank top and rested them on her ribcage.

He chuckled low against her shoulder. "Good."

She reached her hand backwards, pulling his head down, and arching toward him. Joe accepted her invitation, bringing his lips over hers and kissing her deeply. "Mmmm," he whispered, his passion increasing. He turned her around, then covered her mouth with his again as she slid her hands over his bare chest and into his hair.

"Love you," she sighed as they broke apart.

He leaned his forehead against hers, in a vain effort to slow down and gain some control. Emily still had her hands in his hair, and as she leaned her body against his, he felt himself teetering on the brink again.

His hands roamed restlessly over her back and her thin cotton tank top. She pressed her lips to his again and kissed him hungrily. Joe groaned softly as he tugged on the hem of her tank top. "Take this off, baby," he breathed raggedly into her ear. She clung to him, as his lips traveled down the side of her neck. "I love you so much," he whispered.

A knock sounded loudly on the front door and Emily froze.

"Emily? Are you in there?" Susan called. "We just wanted to stop by and say goodnight."

"Oh no! It's my aunt and uncle!" She looked panicked. "Joe, you've got to get out of here."

"What?" he gasped. "Honey, just pretend we're asleep."

"No!" She gave him a little shove. "Get going."

"Emily, in case you haven't noticed, I'm in no condition to go anywhere right now," he protested.

She looked around the room and grabbed a floral print throw off a chair. "Here. Wrap this around you."

"Have you lost your mind?"

"If they find you in here with me...like this...it'll really hurt my aunt's feelings. I don't want to do that. Now go!"

Joe stepped out into the living room, to find Frank already crawling into his makeshift bed on the couch.

"Emily?" Aunt Susan called out again. "Is everything okay?" There was some movement outside. "Emily? Are you all right? We're coming in, dear."

Joe shook his head in irritation and flung himself down on the couch, yanking up the covers. He saw Emily dash quickly out of the bedroom, pulling on some ugly robe, and zipping it up to her neck. She gave Joe a desperate glance, that he thought might be a warning, as she reached for the doorknob. She opened it just as Aunt Susan began turning it from the outside.

"Oh, hi, dear," Susan said as she stepped into the room and looked around nervously. "What took you so long?"

"I, um, I was getting changed. Sorry," she apologized.

"Oh, well, why didn't one of the boys answer?"

"Not dressed," Joe offered. "I didn't think it would be appropriate to answer the door in my underwear. You know, in case one of the girls came out here." He would be good, but not that good. The physical pain he was in at the moment wouldn't allow for it.

Susan blushed and hung her head, while Ed chuckled. "I told her she was gonna be botherin' you, and that you all were fine."

"I was nervous about these sleeping arrangements, Ed," Susan said. "I only wanted to make sure everyone was comfortable."

"Oh, I couldn't be more comfortable," Joe spoke up.

Susan looked over at Frank, who had the pillow covering his head. "Is he okay?"

"He's asleep," Joe told her. "He prefers the pillow over him rather than under him. He always has."

"Oh." Susan looked to Emily. "Where's Nancy?"

"Um, she's in the shower. Or in bed. She was really tired," Emily added.

"Well, okay then. I guess if everything is all right, we'll let you get some sleep." Susan gestured to Emily, who walked toward her. "Sweetheart, you probably shouldn't let Joe see you dressed like that."

Joe rolled his eyes as Emily glanced down at the full-length, high-necked, shapeless robe with the zipper front she'd hastily grabbed out of the closet, then back at her aunt.

Her aunt was right, Joe thought. He shouldn't see her dressed like that. He should be seeing her in her "barely there" lingerie that he loved. Tiny scraps of lace and silk that he could slip off with one finger. He shifted uncomfortably. Okay, that little fantasy wasn't helping the situation one bit. He strained to hear the rest of the conversation as Emily's aunt pulled her closer.

"Honey, a robe is almost like your…undergarments." Aunt Susan whispered the last word.

Joe couldn't help smiling. Not even close to Emily's undergarments. She always looked demure and sweet on the outside, but underneath it all, she dressed like a stripper. Joe loved it. Aunt Susan would pass out if she knew. He was certain of that.

Emily stifled a smile. "Well, I had to answer the door, Aunt Susan. But I'll keep that in mind."

Aunt Susan patted her hand reassuringly. "I know you will." Aloud she said, "Good night, everyone. We'll see you in the morning."

After the front door closed, Nancy, wrapped in a towel, poked her head out of the bedroom. "Are they gone?"

"Yes." Emily turned to face them, then burst out laughing.

"I'm glad you think this is funny, because I don't," Joe said. The passing thoughts of Emily in her lingerie had only added to his discomfort. And now he was ticked.

"I'm sorry, it's just that..." Emily couldn't finish, and sat down on the couch next to Joe, giggling uncontrollably.

"She's lost it." Joe shook his head.

Frank lifted the pillow off his head, and shook his soaking wet hair, splattering drops of water everywhere. "Is your aunt going to do that again?"

Emily shrugged. "I have no idea."

"Because I don't think I can take it." Frank stood up, adjusting his towel.

Nancy began laughing as well. "Come on, Frank. You've got to admit that was funny."

Frank smiled at her. "Maybe a little." He brushed back his wet hair. "But only a little."

Joe rose up from the couch as well, the cotton throw hanging loosely from his hips.

Frank chuckled. "Okay, Joe's flowered skirt is funny."

Joe glared at him. "Shut up." He turned to Emily. "And will you please take that hideous thing off?"

"What?" Emily twirled around and gave him a teasing smile. "You don't like my granny robe?"

"Only if I want to make out with my Aunt Gertrude," he muttered, tightening his blanket.

She winked at him. "Well, come with me then. I'll let you take it off."

He grinned. "Now that's more like it." He turned to Frank and Nancy as Emily led him toward the bedroom. "Later."

Frank looked at Nancy. "Last one in the shower is a rotten egg!"